What is the purpose of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?

• A. To provide financial planning services.
• B. To deal with issues such as substance abuse, emotional/mental health, or family difficulties that affect job performance.
• C. To train new recruits in physical fitness.
• D. To enforce attendance policies.

Answer: (B)

An Employee Assistance Program helps employees handle personal problems that can spill over into work performance and safety. It provides confidential counseling, crisis intervention, and referrals for issues such as substance abuse, emotional or mental health concerns, or family difficulties. The goal is to support the employee so they can perform their duties effectively and maintain safety, reducing disruptions at work. In the fire service, this is especially important because firefighters face high stress, exposure to traumatic events, and irregular schedules, so timely support can prevent problems from escalating. The other options describe services or policies that aren’t the primary purpose of an EAP, such as financial planning, training, or enforcing attendance.